Tarragon - Russian

Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculoides or Artemisia dracunculus var. dracunculoides) is a hardy and vigorous perennial herb, distinct from its more culinary acclaimed cousin, French tarragon. While it shares a similar appearance with slender, green leaves, Russian tarragon's flavour is notably milder, often described as grassy, slightly bitter, or faintly herbaceous, lacking the pronounced sweet anise or liquorice notes characteristic of French tarragon. Due to its less intense flavour, it is generally not a substitute where the specific taste of French tarragon is required. However, its robust growth and ease of cultivation from seed make it a resilient addition to South African gardens. It can be used as a fresh green in salads for bulk or a subtle background flavour, and its leaves are sometimes incorporated into herb mixtures where a less dominant tarragon presence is desired. Historically, it has also found use in some traditional medicinal applications.